Alarm for boats.



G. L. HOFFMAN.

ALARM FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1910 1,012,852.. Patented De0.26,1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsHlNmu-, D. c.

CLARENCE L. HOFFMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ALARM FOR BOATS.

Application filed January 28, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. Horr- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and Stateof Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarmsfor Boats, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the construction of motor boats it is desirable to have some meansfor giving a warning of leakage in the fuel tanks.

This invention relates to an alarm adapted to notify the boat operatorboth by sight and sound of the existence of a leak in any of the fueltanks of the boat.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly inlongitudinal section, of the forward part of the boat showing thedisposition of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view indetail of a drip basin, its float, and an electric switch operatedthereby.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a forward fuel tank supported inthe usual manner near the bow of the boat and provided with a drip pan 2that is adapted to direct all waste from the tank to a suitable fitting3 and drain pipe 4: opening outside of the skin of the boat, a suitablevalve 6 arranged with the handle 7 that extendsthrough the bulk head 8,being provided for closing the drain pipe. A steering wheel indicated at35 and motor controlled mechanism is mounted on the bulk head 8 at apoint convenient for the navigator of the boat. A drip basin 9 that ispreferably cylindrical, is secured by its closed top 10 to the fitting 3to receive a portion of the fluid discharged into the drip pan. A hollowfloat 11 that is preferably spherical, has a tubular stem 12 whose lowerportion is longitudinally reciprocable on an axially disposed rod 13secured at its lower end to a bridge 14 spanning the dished or'hollowbottom 15 of the drip basin. The upper end of the stem 12 is pivotallysecured to a lever 16 that is coupled by a link 17, second lever 18,push rod 19, bell crank or insu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

Serial No. 540,559.

lating disk 20, and thrust rod 21 tothrow an electric switch 22 when thefloat rises.

Obviously, the motion of the float may be communicated to the switch byany suitable mechanism, the one indicated being expedient for theparticular arrangement illustrated herein. The switch lever 23 of theswitch 22 is preferably arranged to contact with two oppositely disposedstuds 24: connected in parallel with a binding post 25. The lever 23 islikewise electrically connected with a second post 26. The switch is inseries with a battery 27 and one of the indicators of an annunciator 28which is provided likewise with an alarm bell 29. Preferably theannunciator is placed near the control and steering station so that theparty navigating the boat can see at a glance when any leakage exists.By this arrangement of parts, any escape of fuel sounds an alarm andindicates that a leak occurs, thereby enabling the operator to takeproper precautions immediately; the arrangement of the long tubular stemof the float 011 the guide rod makes the float operative in allpositions assumed by the boat, the oscillations and movements of thelatter not pre venting the movement of the float.

To prevent ignition of the gasolene from accidental grounding of thebattery circuit through the mechanism between the float and switch, oneof the members of said mechanism, as, for example, the bell crank ordisk 20, is made of fiber or other non-conducting substance, and itisalso advisable to inclose the exposed portions of the mechanism with acage 34: of wire netting or like foraminous material.

Obviously, details of construction may be varied without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and I do not limit myself to any particularform or arrangement of parts.

What I claim as my invention is In a leak-indicator, the combinationwith areceiver, comprising a vertical cylindrical casing and a guide rodhaving its lower end secured to the bottom of said casing andunsupported at its upper end, of a float having an upwardly extendingtubular stem closed at its upper end to protect the unsupported free endof said rod and movable thereon, a

normally open electric circuit comprising a In testimony whereof I aifixmy signature source of energy and. an lndlca-tor device and in presenceof tWo wltnesses.

a circuit-closer therefor, and means permaw nently and directlyconnecting the closed CLARENCE HOB FMAN' 5 end of the float-stem withthe circuit-closer Witnesses:

to close said circuit by the rising movement ANNA M. Donn,

of the float. C. R. STIOKNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

